ACU College of Business Administration opens Internet café on
campus

Coffee shops have long been the companion of college students looking
for a place to study, and in recent years, the Internet also has become
a necessity for students needing to cram for a test.

Now business students at Abilene Christian University have a place to
do both.

On Nov. 7, at 9 a.m., the Connections Café will celebrate its
Grand Opening in the Mabee Business Building at ACU.

Connections Café is designed to provide faculty and students with
the relaxed atmosphere of any normal café as well as access to the
World Wide Web and other technology resources.

The Grand Opening will include a ribbon cutting by Dr. Rick Lytle , dean
of the College of Business Administration, and drawings for prizes throughout
the day. In addition, ARAMARK, ACU's food service company, which is providing
the food for the café, will donate half of its proceeds to a business
scholarship program.

"The reason for having this is that I want students and faculty
to be challenged to use today's technology," Lytle said. "To have
a place like this is important."

Computers, Internet connections and a wireless motherboard for laptops
are available for student use in the e-café.

"It was my belief that we needed a space in our building to be connected,"
Lytle said. "Connected to each other, connected to the faculty, connected
to the outside world and connected to the mission of COBA."

Café visitors also can enjoy a television, a VCR and an extensive
book collection that pertains mostly to business. ARAMARK serves café-style
food and drinks at Connections.

In addition, the café houses a business resource area with various
magazines, videos and compact discs on issues of Christian leadership in
the business marketplace.

The trend is continuing across campus; although it won't be an e-café,
the College of Biblical Studies also is planning to open a café for
students sometime as well.

If you are a member of the media who would like more information
about this release, please contact Wendy Kilmer, university news
coordinator, at wendy.kilmer@acu.edu,
or call 915-674-2692. Last update: Oct. 31, 2001